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As a few weeks passed after the mission, the three Jedi began to heal, physically, and emotionally as well. Their cuts and burns mended themselves, and their bruises faded. They continued their lessons and practices, and Sarah and Anakin now were able to use their new lightsabers. When Obi-Wan had mentioned the lightsabers to Mace Windu, and the Jedi Master had agreed that the two Padawans had deemed themselves able to use them, and so, the two Padawans returned their pink training lightsabers, and clipped their new blue ones to their belts. Looking at them, so similar to his own, Obi-Wan felt a deep sense of pride. It had long been a tradition of the Jedi Padawan to base their lightsaber off of their Master, and Obi-Wan felt as though he was perhaps finally settling into the role of Master.

He and Anakin were again on speaking terms, but it was always tense and overly polite, in short, it was really no better then it had been when they were not speaking.

But Obi-Wan was rather getting used to his strained relationship with Anakin. Though it bothered him, his heart soared when he saw how much better his Padawans were getting along after the mission. They were far from being inseparable best friends, but there was a small bond of amity growing there, and he could not have been happier about it. He could handle a bad relationship with Anakin, but he did not think he could handle it if after everything, the two Padawans did not get along.

Things were far from perfect, but the mission had helped them. It had strengthened the bond between the three, and Obi-Wan was thankful for that. He knew that his Padawans were destined for greatness, it was a feeling that he often got, but deep inside of him lurked another feeling. He always managed to push it away, but there was no doubting it. Despair.

For whom, or why, he did not know, but Obi-Wan simply tried to heed to Qui-Gon's familiar advice, and live in the moment. Obi-Wan knew that it did not do to dwell on feelings. A Jedi should always be aware, but to let them govern a Jedi's life was not the path of a Jedi.

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One evening, Sarah had an extra practice session, and so, it was just Obi-Wan and Anakin for dinner. They ate their meal awkwardly, trying to make civil conversation, but not being very successful . As their usual pattern went, they eventually just drifted off into silence.

After they cleaned up, Obi-Wan settled down with files and a data pad to work on a report for the Council, and Anakin took out his latest project and was tinkering away on it. As he reached for a screwdriver, he paused. He glanced at Obi-Wan, who was engrossed in his work, and he wondered if he should just say something...he was tired of the silence.

Obi-Wan did not notice his Padawan's hesitation, and he was surprised when Anakin stood and said timidly, "Master?" while still avoiding eye contact with Obi-Wan.

"Yes Anakin?" He looked questioningly at his Padawan.

"I was just..." Anakin shuffled his feet, "just wondering if we could maybe...um...talk." He still avoided eye contact with Obi-Wan, his heart pounding nervously in his chest, wishing that he had not spoken at all.

Obi-Wan was caught completely off-guard. Of all things in the Galaxy, he was not expecting his Padawan to want to...talk. He cleared his throat. "Of course, Anakin." He gestured for his Padawan to sit across from him, and he raised his eyebrows, waiting for Anakin to speak, hoping desperately that this conversation would not end in a yelling match.

Anakin could not believe how nervous he felt. Obi-Wan was his Master, it was not supposed to be this...tense. He tried to find a Jedi calm. Finally, he spoke again. "I just...well.." he took a deep breath, deciding just to get it over with. "I just wanted to apologize. I'm sorry for the way that I spoke to you and the way that I acted. It wasn't very Jedi-like, and I am sorry."

Obi-Wan was entirely taken aback. He was not expecting this, but as soon as he had heard the words, he was glad that his Padawan had initiated this conversation. He paused a moment before speaking. "And I apologize to you, Padawan. I am sorry for the way I have been acting, it has not been fair to you, but please, I just want you to understand why I said those things to you."

Anakin looked down, not knowing what to say, and so Obi-Wan continued. "Anakin, please. I am not used to this yet. I was very young when you became my apprentice, and it has only been two years. I am trying my best."

"I know, Master. I just -" Anakin paused, not knowing if he should say what was really on his heart.

"Anakin," Obi-Wan said gently, "I may be your Master, but I am also your friend. Please do not ever hesitate to tell me anything."

Anakin bit his bottom lip, letting Obi-Wan's words sink in. Finally, he was able to speak. "Master, it's just that sometimes I feel as though you're holding back. After Qui-Gon died, you never really told me anything. I know that he asked you to train me, and I...well, I'm sorry that I just barged into your life like this. I don't want to be a burden."

Obi-Wan's heart practically broke at Anakin's words. Had the boy really thought that he was a burden? "Anakin, I wish that you had told me this earlier. You are not in any way a burden to me. Qui-Gon's death was a terrible blow to me. He was like my father. When he asked me to train you, I was afraid. I did not know if I could do it...I did not want to fail him."

Obi-Wan looked at Anakin, but the Padawan still did not look back. Obi-Wan moved forward and gently tipped Anakin's chin up, making his Padawan look at him. He saw that the boy's eyes were glistening slightly with tears.

Obi-Wan continued, "Anakin, you are my Padawan. You are in no way a burden to me. I will train you to knighthood, I promise. I truly, truly am sorry for everything that has been said and done between us. You are like a son to me, a brother, and I am committed to you. You are not an obligation...you are my Padawan. Do you understand?"

Anakin nodded, and by this time, Obi-Wan's eyes were becoming threateningly moist as well.

Anakin spoke again. "When we were on the mission, when I saw the Sith...I was so scared. I... I don't want to lose you Master. And for a moment, when we heard you yell, I thought that you might have -"

A lump was forming in Obi-Wan's throat. "I was scared as well, young one. But we got through it, didn't we? Listen to me Padawan. You and me and Sarah, we're a family, and we will always be a family...don't ever forget that. And please, don't ever forget how much I care for you, Padawan."

At last, a tear slipped down Anakin's cheek as the boy nodded.

Obi-Wan pulled him into a hug, and he felt Anakin's shoulders shake. "Don't ever forget it, my Padawan," he whispered.

Anakin was now practically sobbing. "I'm so sorry, Master," he managed to choke out. Obi-Wan just held the boy and let him cry into his shoulder. Obi-Wan felt a few tears slip down his own cheek. They stayed that way for a long while, until Anakin's tears finally began to slow. They both leaned back on the couch, and just sat there quietly, but it was not the tense quiet that had plagued them for so long. It was a healing quiet, and it was peaceful.

A while later, Sarah returned from her practice session, and when she saw Obi-Wan and Anakin sitting together, she stopped short. Obi-Wan looked over at her and motioned for her to join them. She sat on Obi-Wan's side, with Obi-Wan in the middle. She could instantly tell that they had spoken and that all had been forgiven. Obi-Wan sat, an arm around each of his Padawans, and they stayed that way for a very long time, quiet and simply thinking.

Finally, it was getting late, and it was time to go to bed. They all stood reluctantly, not really wanting to leave their comfortable places on the couch. Before they went off to bed, Obi-Wan took out his lightsaber and ignited it, and he motioned his Padawans to do the same.

They all touched the dazzling blue blades together, and none needed to spoke. They all understood. The three blue blades were intertwined, and so were their hearts. The minute that the blades touched, the small bond that existed between the three finally strengthened. They were no longer just three Jedi...they were friends, but most of all, they were a family, and by the soft blue light of the lightsabers, all three could not help smiling.

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A/N: More to come soon, I promise, and I am quite excited about it!